Disconnecting switch



g- 23, 1932- H. w. BODENDIECK I v1,373,272

DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Oct 12. 1928 V gvvuentofo Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED HENRY W. BODENDIECK, OF TAYLOBVTLLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TIPS TOOL GOM- PANY, ING., OF TAYLORVILLE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS DISCONNECTING- SWITCH Application filed October 12, 1928. Serial No. 312,107.

This invention relates to disconnecting switches and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind wherein is employed a blade together with means associated therewith for effectively locking said blade in closed position and which also operates with equal facility in eifecting a release or'disconnecting of the blade.

Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide a switch of this kind wherein the means for locking the blade into closed adjustment also provides a further means for maintaining a positive. connection between the .contacts comprised in the switch and which is of especial importance in the event the conventional spring clip or terminal with which the blade engages becomes ineffective as a result of burnin or from any other cause.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a switch of this kind wherein a locking means is provided for the blade when in closed adjustment and which means also .opcrates to facilitate the release or disconnecting of a blade, said means normally onlybeing effective when the blade is in contact with the terminal of the contact with which the blade is adapted to have releasable engagement so that the liability of fusing of such means incident to the closing or opening of the blade is substantially eliminated.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved disconnecting switch whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation with a portion broken away of a disconnecting switch constructed 1n accordance with an embodiment of my invention, the blade being ing the blade released and initially moved toward open. position, a coacting hot stick being r 'FFICE diagrammatically indicated by broken lines; s

Figure 3. is a view similarto Figure 2 but showing the blade in its initially closed position and just before the locking means becomes operative, the coacting hot stick being also diagrammatically indicated by broken I lines.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawing, B denotes an elongated base constructed in a conventional manner and which has engaged. V

therewith at desired points spaced longitudinally thereof the insulators A and A... The insulators A and A are provided respectively with the terminal posts 1 and 1, each of'which being provided with an outstandingprojection .or lug 2 which constitutes a terminal connection for a desired conductor. Asthe manner of engaging a conductor with each of these projections or lugs 2 forms no par.- ticular part of the present invention adetailed disclosure thereof is believed to be unnecessary.

Pivot'ally connected, as at 3, with the terminal post 1 associated with the insulator A is the switch blade 4 of a length to have re quisite engagement with and between the conventional spring clip terminals 5 carried by the terminal post 1. The foregoing construction is well known. a The terminal post 1 inwardly of the cli 'erminals 5 is provided with an inwardly disposed elongated lug or plate 6 preferably integral with the terminal post 1 and the outer or free end portion of said lug or plate 6 is provided therethrough with an opening 7, the majorportion of the wall of said opening being threaded. The end portion of this opening 7 opposed to the blade 4 is enlarged as at 8, for a purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to. Carried by a side face of the blade 4 and in electrical connection therewith is a sleeve or barrel 9. This sleeve or barrel 9 is dis posed transversely across the blade 4 and longitudinal axis of the blade 4.

Freely disposed through this sleeve or-barrel 9 is a shank 1O and'atopposite sides of preferably with its axis at right angles to the or plate 6 to effectively mai the blade 4 in closed position.

The opposite or outer end portion of the shanklO is provided with an angular head 12 adapted to be received within a socket 14 carried byan end portion of a. hot stick 15, as diagrammatically indicated by broken lines in .Figure 3.

, In closing theswitch, the hot stick is convenientlyforced against the blade 4 to bring the same into requisite initial contact with the-clip terminals and preferably'until the outer extremity of the portion 10 of the shank '10'enters within the opening 7, during which time the shoulder 11 is in contact with theadjacent end of the sleeve or barrel 9 and, of course,the shoulder 11 is slightly spaced therefrom,

. Theouterextremity of the portion 10 of theshank 1O.is pointed, as at 16, to provide a pilot coacting with the enlarged portion 8 ofthe opening 7 to facilitate the entrance of theportion 10 of the shank 10 within said opening-7. V

The socket 14 of the'hot stick 15 is then engaged with the head 12 and the shank 10 rotatedto' thread thepor'tion 10 thereof into the opening 7, thus moving the blade 4 into more effective engagement with the terminals 5 and at, the same time effectively locking the blade4 in desired closed position. This locking action is highly desirable especially in view of the fact that it also serves to provide apositiveconnection between the blade 4 and the terminal post 1 so thatin the event thejclip terminals 5 should become'ineffective as-a result of arcing or any'other cause, the blade 4 will be prevented from moving into open position and the requisite flow of current will be maintained by the connection afforded through the instrumentality of the locking means. understood that this locking means affords what may be termed a secondary positive connection between the blade 4 and the terminal post 1" and which secondary connec= tion is of vital importance in connection with the maintenance of hot or high tensioned switches orkindred electrical equipment.

It is to be notedthat the portion 10 of the shank 10-is permittedin the first instance to thread within the opening 7 without impart- Inother words, it istobe ing movement to the blade 4 as the shoulder 11 of the shank 10, owing to the endwise movement of the shank 10 independently of the blade 4, will not contact with said blade 4 until after the portion 10 of the shank has effective threaded engagement within the opening 7 and thus eliminating arcing between the portion 10 and the lug or plate 6.

When it is desired to open or disconnect the switch, the hot stick 15 through'its socket 14is engaged 'withithe head12t0 unthread the portion 10 of the shank 10 from the lug or plate 6 and during such operation the shoulder .11 will have, contact with the adventionis particularly well adapted .for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it vmay be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious thatmy invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principlesand spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wishto be understood as limiting myself to theyprecisearrangement and formation. of the, several parts herein;

shown in carrying out lily-inventioninzprac: tice except as here nafter claimed.

I cla1m:-

1. In combination with a switchblade and e an associated terminal, a sleeve carried .by the blade, a member freely insertible through the sleeve, said'member beingprovided-with shoulders spaced apart a distancegreater than the length of the sleeve, said sleeve be.- ing positioned between said shoulders,'an' end portionof the member being threaded, the terminal having an opening with which said threaded .portion of the member is engage ablea i i 2. In combination with a switch blade and an associatedcterm'inal, a sleeve carried'by the blade, a member freely insertible through the sleeve, said member being-provided with shouldersspaced apart a distance greater than the length of the sleeve, said sleeve being positioned between said shoulders, an end portion of the member being threaded, the terminal having an opening with which said threaded portion ofthe member is engageable, said member being free of ztheterminal until after the switch ,proper is .in engagement ;therewith,-'. a .shoulder of the 14 is-engaged with the blade 4 tospull the i the blade, a member freely insertible through the sleeve, said member being provided with shoulders spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the sleeve, said sleeve beingpositioned between said shoulders, an end portion of the member being threaded, the terminal having an opening-with which said threaded portion of the member is en-- gageable, said member being free of the terminal until after the switch proper is in engagement therewith, a shoulder, of the member further contacting with the blade to further engage the blade with the terminal after the member has been initially threaded within the opening, the second shoulder of the member engaging the blade when said member is unthreaded from the opening to initially impart opening movement to the blade.

4. In combination with a switch blade and an associated terminal, a sleeve carried by the blade, a member freely insertible through the sleeve, said member being provided with shoulders spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the sleeve, said sleeve being positioned between said shoulders, an end portion of the member being threaded, the terminal having an opening with which said threaded portion of the member is engageable, said member being free of the terminal until after the switch proper is inengagement therewith, a shoulder of the member further contacting with the blade to further engage the blade with the terminal after the member has been initially threaded within the opening, the second shoulder of the member engaging the blade when said member is unthreaded from the opening to initially impart opening movement to the blade,

the independent endwise movement of the member assuring said member being entirely free of the terminal during the opening movement of the blade before the blade is entirely free of the terminal.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aifix my signature.

HENRY W. BODENDIEGK. 

